Diantha Seibert

Diantha Norwood [nee Murphy] Seibert left this earth Oct. 9, 2024. She was 79. After being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2006 and later with Dementia, Diantha fought the good fight as long as her body and mind allowed.

Diantha was born on July 14, 1945 in Alliance, Ohio where her father was a professor of Classics at Mount Union College. She was named after her paternal great-grandmother and her name means "divine flower" or "heavenly flower" in Greek. Diantha was truly one-of-a-kind; she never met another Diantha.

When Diantha was two, her father transferred from Mount Union College to Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. In ninth grade Diantha met Mike Seibert - her then future husband. They began dating sophomore year of high school and graduated from Athens High School together in 1963. Diantha went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from Miami University majoring in English with a minor in German. She graduated from Miami University in 1967. Mike graduated from Notre Dame University the same year. They were married on Diantha's 22nd birthday, July 14, 1967 at Galbreath Chapel on the campus of Ohio University. New college grads and just starting out, they honeymooned for a weekend in Columbus, Ohio at the Christopher Inn. Mike was in ROTC while attending Notre Dame and opted to defer his tour of duty to obtain a graduate degree from Ohio University. During this time, Diantha got her first job teaching at the Vinton County Consolidated High School. She became pregnant with their first child [Alan] in spring of 1969 and she stayed in Athens with her parents while Mike went to officer basic training. Diantha and Mike, along with their baby son, moved to Hanau, Germany in 1970 where Mike was stationed with the Army. In September of 1971 they welcomed daughter Laura, and later that same year moved to a base in Frankfurt, Germany. After Mike completed his tour of duty, the family moved to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio in 1973.

Diantha had an exuberant personality. She was outgoing, energetic, loyal, witty, dramatic, she had a great sense of humor and a laugh that could be heard for miles [or so it seemed]. She was active in her church[es] Christ Lutheran and later St. Luke's, her children's PTA, several local theatres [Stow Players, Suffield Players, Coach House Theatre, and Goodyear Theater], winning a Coach House Best Actress award for her role as the Dowager Empress in a production of Anastasia. She worked at Roadway Express for 27 years. Diantha met several life-long friends through these activities and she and Mike held many parties at their home on Chestnut Blvd., including numerous cast parties.

January 2004 began a new era for Diantha as she became "Grammy" to her and Mike's first grandchild, Ava. In the years to come, four more grandchildren [Lane, Henri, William, and Maia] were added to the family. Grammy and Papa were present at as many school activities, sporting events, and dance recitals as possible. She and Mike accompanied their extended family on vacation to the Jersey Shore for several years, until Diantha could no longer make the trip. Over the years they traveled with family and friends to various places including The Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Sequoia National Park, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Peru, France, Greece, England, and Germany. The winter of 2018 was a major turning point for Diantha's health. It became quite clear that Parkinson's and Dementia were proving to be forceful antagonists. Diantha and Mike moved from their home in Cuyahoga Falls to Laurel Lake Retirement Community in Hudson where Mike would take care of Diantha until the very end.

Diantha is preceded in death by her parents, Paul R. & Alice N. Murphy, brother and sister-in-law, Gordon & Maureen Murphy. She is survived by her amazing, loving husband and friend, Michael Seibert, children, Alan (Margie) Seibert and Laura (Joseph) Shannon, grandchildren, Henri and Maia Seibert, and Ava, Lane, and William Shannon. Brother, George (Dona) Murphy, brother-in-law, Peter (Midge) Seibert, and sister-in-law, Liz (Rich) Purcell, several nephews and nieces, and many dear friends.

Per Diantha's wishes, she will be cremated. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at Laurel Lake Retirement Community, 200 Laurel Lake Dr., Hudson, Ohio, 44236 at 3pm in the Laurel Lake Community Room. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, https://www.michaeljfox.org.